Orans



W. S. ROSEORANS. .Miners Combination T001.

No.2 24,957. Pat ented Feb'.24,-1 88 0.f

FIG-1 N. PETERS, PHOTOLITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MINERS COMBINATION-TOOL.-

SPEGIFIGA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 224,957, dated February 24, 1880.

Application filed September 1'7, 1879.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. Itosn- GRANS, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented a Combination Implement; and I hereby deelare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide an implement for cutting off fuse, and for pressing the metallic caps used for discharging highgrade explosives over the fuse, so as to insure the explosion of the cap, as is more fully explained in the specification and accompanying drawing, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my implement.

In firing charges of any kind of the highgrade explosives, such as giantpowder, nitroglycerine, safety-powder, &c., a very powerful cap is required. These caps contain a substance or substances which require pressure and confinement in order to be rendered effective. The ends of the caps are left open for the introduction of the end of the fuse or electric igniter, and the copper of the cap is then pressed or squeezed over the fuse, so as to close the end tightly, and at the same time secure the fuse to it. The fuse itself is cut fresh when introduced in the cap. Ordina rily the fuse is cut with a knife or other convenient instrument, and the cap is pressed over the fuse by biting said cap between the teethan extremely dangerous undertaking, but one commonly done by miners accustomed to use the caps.

I have devised a combination implement by means of which the fuse may be out off and the caps squeezed or pressed around it, the same implement answering both purposes.

This implement is formed somewhat in the shape of an ordinary pair of pliers, having handles A, connected by means of the rivet or pivot B.

The head of the tool is formed with a pair of angular cutting blades, a, by means of which the fuse is cut oif square.

In beveling ofi' the edges of the head to form the cutting-blade the bevels are made so as to make a central notch on each side, as shown, the upper part of each blade inclining outward from the top. This construction causes the two blades to form a sort of gripe or hook, as shown, which prevents the pressure on the handle forcing the fuse out between the blades, and a true square cut is made.

In the shank of the implement, below the rivet, are formed the jaws b, the edges being beveled away, so as to form an edge which will not cut the copper or brass of the cartridge, but will squeeze it tightly around the fuse.

After the fuse is cut and put into the open end of the cartridge the latter is inserted between the jaws, and by bringing the handles together the brass or copper cartridge is squeezed tightly around the fuse, thus connecting the fuse to the cartridge and closely confining the fuse.

The single implement thus answers both purposes. It is stamped out of flat steel, is light and strong, and may be carried in the pocket conveniently. By making it fiat in this manner the construction is simple, since the parts may be punched or stamped out easily and cheaply from plate'steel. The quality of the material is thus uniform, and the edge of the cutters will hold.

I intend to use this implement particularly with the safety-capsa new and important substitute for the sensitive and dangerous percussion-caps which must now be employed in exploding giant-powder. The nature of the cap-filling requires close confinement to develop the explosive force, and the copper or brass of the cap has to be pressed firmly over the fuse, which this combined implement does perfectly.

In order to bring this into general use it has been necessary to make an implement which shall be cheap and effective. For this reason I have devised this implement, Which acts as a fuse-cutter and capcompressor, while, beinginade of flat steel, it is light and may be carried in the pocket conveniently, like an ordinary penknife.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The combination implement for cutting fuse and connecting it with the cap or cartridge,

consisting of the pivoted handles A, with their a heads formed into angular cutting-blades a, and with shanks having the gripin g or pressing jaws b, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

Witnesses: W. S. ROSECRANS.

FRANK A. BROOKS, S. H. NoURsE. 

